In the North and South sides of Bronx, N.Y. USA, there is a variety of Hispanics and Latinx. Growing up there, one of my childhood friends had a Chilean heritage and had to return to Chile due to a family emergency. I didn't see her past first grade, and I have a feeling I never really will. 

On a recent human rights project in my Global Connections class, I came across the children's rights loopholes in Chilean law. Firstly, children who are disabled mentally and physically lack a secure education right in Chile. Their law titles them as human beings, but does not give these children a basic human right of being educated. Specifically those who are disabled and live in poorer areas are completely overlooked by the government; this regulates even worse mental health, feelings of depression, and overall poor social skills. These children are no exception to the belief that every child deserves to be educated! In addition, violence is completely legal in the home of any child, regardless of age, gender, or ability if it is done by a parental figure, guardian, or by an agent of Gendarmería (Chile's prison equivalent). Though there are many situations where these abusers are convicted, they are only put in "minor prison", making it seem as if hurting a child is an irrelevant topic. In regards to child sexual assault victims, a protective program for victims called SENAME has been put in place. "The SENAME is responsible for the protection of victims, as well as their juridical and
psychological attention." (World Organizations Against Torture) The issue is that most of SENAME's actions to help victims often end in the children feeling as if they did something wrong instead of the other way around. This needs to change. Help me demand a more direct law leading to longer jail times for violence (sexual, emotional, or physical), more trained SENAME members and Gendarmería agents, and a raised law of legal sexual consent (from 14 to 16) against the leaders of tomorrow suffering in Chile today! 

In general terms, bruises, broken limbs, verbal violence, sexual assault, and eventual poor mental health is accepted in Chile under certain conditions. Remembering my friend from pre-school makes me wonder how safe she is right at this moment. I may still be lucky enough to remain better protected under the United States, but I am still constantly filled with disbelief at what conditions my fellow minors in the world are living in. I'm done sitting around and letting this happen just because it's in a developed country. Chile is a beautiful and well progressed country, but we still have a long way to go before children rights will finally be considered human rights; and it's everyone's job, not just Chile's government, to try and make that happen. #LetThemKnow!